re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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After stepping away from an Arkansas commitment in June, Carterville, Ill., tight end Luke Ford visited six schools across the country this summer. One of those visits stood out among the rest for the four-star.

“If I had to put in into a 40-yard dash term, I’d say Alabama is running a 4.3 and everybody else is running a 4.4,” Ford said.

Ford and his family traveled to Tuscaloosa on June 17, just a week after he de-committed from Arkansas.

“It was just talking with Brian Daboll and him being the offensive coordinator for the Patriots, coaching Gronk (Rob Gronkowski), Martellus Bennett, Aaron Hernandez and all the rings he got with the Patriots," Ford said. "He’s obviously going to bring that offense to Alabama, with the tight end usage, that’s intriguing to me.”

Ford has tickets to attend Alabama’s season opener against Florida State in Atlanta on Sept. 2. He is also looking to schedule an official visit to Tuscaloosa, but that may take place after his senior season is complete. No other official visits have been scheduled, and Ford would prefer to take those after the college football season is complete.

Other schools Ford visited this summer include Auburn, LSU, Michigan and Texas. While other schools could enter the mix in the coming months, the schools he has made prior visits to are the ones Ford is most closely following at this point in his recruitment and he could name a top 10 during the fall.

Although he de-committed from Arkansas, Ford is still interested in the Razorbacks and keeps in regular contact with assistant Barry Lunney Jr. He was also looking closely at the home-state Illinois Fighting Illini prior to his original Arkansas commitment, and made a return visit to see head coach Lovie Smith in Champaign on July 28.

“It was another great visit. I love all the coaching staff and everybody there,” Ford said. “The facilities need work, but that will come later on. For me to buy in and play for the flagship (school) in-state, I just have to see them win games and use the tight end.”

In the recent update of the Rivals100, Ford emerged as the No. 1 ranked tight end prospect in the 2018 class. His senior season kicks off this coming weekend. The four-star expects to line up mostly in the slot, but also in-line in some sets. Ford doubles as an outside linebacker on defense for Carterville.

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